Carton dispenser and separator



Jan. 9, 1962 R. E. MATTEsoN 3,016,164

CARTON DISPENSER AND SEPARATOR Filed Aug. 8, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 waan,

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Russell E. Matteson BY {Aak wm-Qcg INV ENTOR ATTORNEY Jan. 9, 1962 Filed Aug. 8, 1958 R. E. MATTESON CARTON DISPENSER AND SEPARATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV ENTOR F|G.4 Russell E. Matteson BY Knaus LUJf-Loqg ATTORNEY United States Patent() 3,016,164 CARTON DISPENSER AND SEPARATOR Russell E. Matteson, Morris, Ill., assiguor to Diamond National Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 8, 1958, Ser. No. 753,945 18 Claims. (Cl. 221--9) of the cartons individually therefrom, andV a control mechanism -to prevent the dispensing of a second group of cartons prior to the removal of all of the cartons of the fir-st group from the access shelf.

In modern egg packing rooms, eggs are vreceived from i the egg producer in cases that hold thirty dozen eggs each and these eggs are graded and inspected, usually by candling, and then placed in cartons which hold a dozen eggs. In order to achieve economy, the candling and grading of the eggs must be accomplished with great rapidity and to this end equipment has been perfected to enable the candling operation to be swiftly accomplished. However, little attention has been given-to the furnishing of the one dozen egg carton to the candler so that the repeated operation of placing the eggs in the carton and then dispatching the carton may be repeatedly accomplished -with a minimum of eEort and consumption of Itime.

An object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser for dispensing groups of nested cartonsA from a chute.

Another object of the present invention is to provide-a dispenser for dispensing groups of nested cartons from a chute in which dispensing of a second group is prevented until all cartons of the first group have been removed.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a dispenser to accomplish the` above objects that is economical to manufacture, comprises a few simple parts, will give reliable service over a long period of rough usage and takes up a minimum amount of space.

Other objects and the nature andk advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an egg cartonv dispensing mechanism in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on Ithe line 2-2 of FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of the dispenser of FIG. l.

FIG. 4 is ajview similar to FIG. 3, but showing the parts in another position.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional'view taken on the line 5 5 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the'arrows.

lFIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG. l. l

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 7--7 of FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown a dispenser 10 comprising a chute 11 for holding the plurality of groups 12 of nested cartons 13. An escapement mechanism 14 is provided to permit a single group 12 of cartons 13 to pass down the chute, escapement mechanism 14 being actuated by the actuating rod 16 which is in turn under the control of the-mechanism 17 which is so 'chute 11.

3,016,164 Patented Jan. 9, 1962 ICC constructed, as will bel explained in detail hereinafter, that only upon removal of all of the cartons 13 ofthe iirst dispensed group 12 is it` possible to move the control mechanism to actua-te the rod 16 and the escapement mechanism 14 -through it. v

As may be seen in FIG. l, `the groups 12 of cartons 13 are placed in vertically stacked array in the chute 11,.

and each group 12 comprises nested cartons 13 as is clear 'from FIG. 2. The cartons 13 are a widely used type of molded pulp egg carton that holds a dozen eggs and that-has a bottom section that is compartmented and cellular and has a top hinged at one side and a locking ap hinged at the otherside thereof.

The chute 11 ris generally rectangular in cross section, as may be seen from FIG. 2, and has an open front 18. Secured to the sides of the chute 11v are' a pair of brackets 19, and these bracketsV 19 extend forwardly of the chute 4and rotatably support between them a rock shaft 21 that may be seen to extend across the open Vfront 18 and to have secured to it a pair of similar escapement levers 22.y As may be seen, the escapementlevers 22 extend in a generally' vertical plane and have inwardly directed iingers 23 vandl 23', respectively, at the lower and upper ends thereof. It will be understood Athat the lengths of the escapement levers 22 and of the ngers 23, 23' depend upon the characteristics of the cartons to be dispensed, and thus'mtay be lengthened or shortened in known manner to meet thel requirements of different cartons. A beam 24 is secured torand extends transversely of the escapement levers 22, beam Y24 being preferably parallel to the rock shaft 21 and spaced therefrom.

Rotatably suspended from the" end of beam 24 is the aforementioned actuating rod 16 that is urged ina clockwise manner as seen in FIG. 1 by the spring 26 that has one end connected `to the rod 16 below its connection with the beam 24 and the other end anchored to the Spring 26 also exerts a force on the escapement lever-s 22 to urgey them to rotate in a clockwise manner, as seen in FIG. l, about rock shaft 21. A stop 27 extends from the side of chute 11 and serves as a -limiting guide for the actuating rod 16.

It will be understood that movement of the-actuating rod 16 downwardly will cause the beam 24 to rotate the escapement levers 22 on the axis of rock shaft 21 so as to 'bring the lower lingers 23 through the open front 18 of chute ll'while the upper lingers 23 are being removed from their position within the chute. Thus, the group 12 of cartons that are shown heldby the upper fingers 23 will be released and caught bythe lower fingers 23,

and on a subsequent upward movement of actuating rod- 16, the opposite rotation of levers 22 will take place to Vrelease the lowest group 12 and to retain the next highest group 12. y

The control mechanism 17 is shown in FIG. 3 to comprisea handle lever 31 pivotally secured by a bolt 32' at the rear of chute 11. As is apparent-from FIG. l there is a corresponding lever 31 similarly pivoted on the oppositeside of chute 11. Handle levers 31 have upstanding ears 32, see also FIG. 6, and between the ears 32 there extends a handle bar 33. Each ofthe ears 32 carries a restraining'member 34 having a plurality of inwardly extending resilient lingers 35. The restraining member 34 with the lingers 35 is also clearly shown in FIG. 7.

A shelf 37 having an upturned lip 38 extends outwardly from the chute 11, and it is on this shelf, which functions as an access shelf, that the group 12 of cartons 13 comes to rest. The handle levers 31 extend on either side of the group 12, and the lingers 35 of restraining member 34 engage with the edges of the cartons 13 in the group 12 resting on access shelf 37.

Below handle lever 31 there is a downwardly pointing i V-shaped lever 41 that is pivoted at a point intermediate 3 a first leg 42 thereof about a pivot pin 43 extending from the side of the chute 11. The second leg 44 of lever 41 has a handle lever engaging pin 46 extending under the handle lever 31 and is engageable by the underside of handle lever 31 when handle lever 31 is `moved to the position shown in FIG. 3.

A ratchet 47 is pivoted at its lower end to the pivot pin 43, and as may be seen from FIG. 5, is between the V-shaped lever 41 and the handle lever 31. A connecting pin 48 extends from the rst leg 42 of V-shaped lever 41 into a slot 49 in ratchet 47.

A spring 51 is connected at its lower end to the V- shaped lever 41 at the apex thereof, and extends upwardly to an anchor 52 extending from the side of the chute 11. Preferably, the stop 27 and the anchor 52 are connected to the chute 11 by a single bolt.k The spring 51 has a stiffening rod 53 extending therethrough.

Extending outwardly from the handle lever 31 are a stop pin 54 that is forwardly of ratchet 47 and a ratchet pin 55 that is rearwardly of ratchet 47 and engages therewith when ratchet 47 is in the operative position thereof. Also, a hammer 56 extends from the handle lever 31 rearwardly of both the ratchet 47 and the spring 51 with the rod 53 therein. As may be seen from FIG. 5, hammer 56 extends outwardly sufficiently from handle lever 31 to lie in the same vertical plane as the spring 51.

In operation, and assuming that the parts are as shown in FIG. 3, it will be observed that the handle levers 31 are in a lowermost position. There are no cartons on the access shelf 37, so that it is desired to actuate the escapement mechanism 14 to dispense a group 12 of cartons 13 from the chute 11 onto the access shelf 37. To do this, handle bar 3,3 and h andle levers 31 are raised, as by grasping handle bar 33; this action will cause the hammer 56 to strike against the spring 51, and because of the rod 53 therein spring 51 will be caused to rotate about its upper end, fastened to anchor 52, and thus the lower end of spring 51 will describe an arc in a counter-clockwise direction. Because the lower end of spring 51 is connected to the apex of V-shaped lever 41, V-shaped lever 41 will similarly be caused to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. As V-shaped lever 41 rotates, connecting pin 48 will move to the rear end of slot 49 in ratchet 47, and upon engagement therewith will cause counter-clockwise engagement of ratchet 47, it being understood that both ratchet 47 and V-shaped lever 41 rotate about pivot pin 43. This will bring the parts to the position shown in FIG. 4, and it will be noted that V-shaped lever 41 and spring 51 comprise an over-center mechanism so that the direction of pull exerted by spring 51 is now on the forward side of the pivot pin 43, spring .5 1 having been thrown there by the force of the blow of hammer 56.

As handle lever 31 is rotated upwardly, or in a counterclockwise direction, it will engage the lower end of actuating rod 16 and cause it to move upwardly, at the same time maintaining its contact with stop 27 by virtue of the pull of spring 26. As above described, upward movement of actuating rod 16 causes the escapement levers 22, to rock about the axis of rock shaft 21 thus to withdraw the lower fingers 23 of escapement levers 22 from the chute 11 to release a group 12 so that it may fall to the access shelf 37 and be stopped by the lip 38. Meanwhile, of course, the upper fingers 23' have entered through the opening 18 of chute 11 to engage with the next groupV 12 to retain it from also `dropping through the chute 11.

Handle bar 33 is then released when it has gone to the upper limit of its travel, and this is determined by the engagement of ratchet pin 55 in the teeth of ratchet 4'7 as shown in FIG. 4. Upon release of the handle bar 33, it will be held in substantially the release position by the engagement of the fingers 35 of restraining member 34 with the edges .of the cartons 13 that are now` on the access shelf 37. The operator then picks the top carton 13 from the group 12 and the weight of the handle bar slot connection 48, 49) in a counter-clockwise direction.

As the handle lever 31 rotates in its clockwise direction it disengages itself from the actuating rod 16. It is also to be observed that when the handle lever 31 rotates in a e clockwise direction as the cartons 13 are being removed from the group 12, spring 2.6 will exert a pull on the beam 24 to cause the levers 22 to rotate in a clockwise direction so that the lower fingers 23 of the levers 22 enter into the chute 11 to catch and retain the lowest group 12 in the chute 11.

When the last of the cartons 13 of the group 12 on access shelf 37 has been removed therefrom, the underside of handle lever 31 will engage the handle lever engaging pin 46 that extends from the second leg 44 of the V-shaped lever 41, and thus will rotate the V-shaped lever 41 in a clockwise direction (see FIG. 3) about the pivot pin 43. This will cause the spring 51 to move rearwardly of the pivot pin 43 so that the pull of spring S1 urges V-shaped lever 41 in the clockwise direction. Also, connecting pin 48 on the first leg 42 of V-shaped lever 41 will move to the other end of slot 49 in ratchet 47 and upon engagement of that end will also urge the ratchet 47 in the clockwise direction. Movement of both ratchet 47 andV-shaped lever 41 in the clockwise direction is limited by the stop pin S4 that extends from the handle lever 31. This, of course, places the parts back into the position shown in FIG. 3.

It will be seen that there has been provided a dispensing mechanism that is made up of a relatively few easy to manufacture parts, and that takes up a minimum amount of space. This latter advantage, obtains, of course, from the stacking of the cartons 13 on edge rather than placing them flat. Also, the actuation of escapement mechanism 14 is prevented while there are any cartons 13 on the access shelf 37 because the handle levers 31 cannot be raised to actuate the escapement mechanism 14 until it has completed its clockwise travel downwardly and has struck the handle lever engaging pin 46 to rotate ratchet 47 to ratchet release position which is shown in FIG. 3. By virtue of engagement of ratchet pin 55 with the teeth of ratchet 47,` together with the urging of spring 51, the handle bar 33 could not be raised while there are still cartons 13 on the shelf 37.

From the above, it will be seen that the dispensing mechanism of the present invention dispenses one group of cartons at a time, and eliminates any possibility of more than one group coming to the access shelf 37 and thus either forcing cartons from the shelf 37 or otherwise disrupting the regular operation of the invention.

Thus, the dispenser of the present invention is easy to operate and is also foolproof in its operation so as to prevent the escapement of more than one group 12 from the chute, and particularly prevents the escapement of a group 12 from the chute while any of the cartons 13 of the previous group 12 are on the shelf 37 It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispenser comprising a chute for holding` a plurality of groups of nested cartonsin vertical alignment and having an open front therein, an escapement mechanism for permitting groups of cartons to pass down said chute sequentially, said mechanism comprising a rock shaft extending across the open front of said chute, at least one escapement lever secured to the rock shaft transversely thereof and having inwardly directed fingers at the ends thereof, means to rock said rock shaft and escapement lever comprising a beam' secured to and extending transversely of said lever and spaced from said rock shaft, an actuating rod extending upwardly along the side of said chute and pivotally connected to said beam, a stopon said chute, a spring connected to said chute and said rod and urging said rod against said stop, an access shelf extending from said chute to receive a group of cartons released by said escapement mechanism, a control mechanism at the bottom of said chute for effecting upward movement of said actuating rod,

said control mechanism comprising a pair of handle levers pivoted on the sides of said chute at the rear thereof and extending forwardly, one of said handle levers being engageable with said actuating rod in the upper part of its movement to cause it to move upwardly, an upstanding ear on each of said handle levers and spaced outwardly of said shelf, a handle bar extending between said ears, a restraining member on the inner side of each ear and adapted to engage the sides ofcartons resting on said shelf, said restraining members each comprising inwardly extending resilient fingers, a downwardly pointing V-shaped lever pivoted at a point intermediate a lirst leg thereof about a pivot pin extending from said chute, a ratchet pivoted at its lower end to said pivotl pin and between said V-shaped lever and said handle lever, a connecting pin extending from said first leg of said lever and engaging in a slot in said ratchet, said V-shaped lever and said ratchet movable between ratchet operative and ratchet release positions, a spring having a rod extending therethrough attached to the V-shaped lever at its apex and extending upwardly to an anchor on the side of said chute, a handle leverengaging pin extending inwardly from the end of the second leg of said V-shaped lever'and engageable by the underside lhandle lever and engageable with the teeth of said ratchet ,when the ratchet is in operative position to thereby preventv upward movement of said handle, and a hammer extending from said one lever and engageable with said second mentioned spring upon raising of said handle to cause the lower end thereof to move to thereby rotate said V-shaped lever and said ratchet about said pivot pin vtofratchet operative position.

upward movement of said actuating rod, said control mechanism comprising a pair of handle levers pivoted on the sides of said 'chute at the rear thereofand extending forwardly, one of said handle levers being engageable with saidv actuating rod in the upper part of its movement to cause it to move upwardly, an upstanding ear on each of said handle levers and spaced outwardly of said shelf, a handle bar extending between said ears, a restraining member on the inner side of each ear and adapted to engage the sides of cartons resting on said Shelf, said restraining members each comprising' inwardlyextending resilient fingers, a downwardly pointing V-shaped lever pivoted at a point intermediate a lirst leg thereof about a pivot pin extending from said chute, a ratchet pivoted at its lower end to said pivot pin and between Asaid V-shaped lever and said handle lever, a connecting pin extending from said first-leg of said lever and engaging in a slot in said ratchet, said V-shaped lever and said ratchet movable between ratchet operative and ratchet release positions, a spring having a rod extending therethrough attached to the V-shaped lever at itsrapex and extending upwardly to an anchor on the side of said chute,'a handle lever engaging pin extending in- Wardly from the end of the second leg of said V-shaped lever and engageable by the underside of one of said handle levers in the lower position thereof to thereby cause rotation of said V-shaped lever and said ratchet, upon engagement of said connecting pin and one end of the slot of said ratchet, to ratchet release position, a stop pin extending from said one handle lever and engageable by said ratchet to limit rotation of said ratchet and said V-shaped lever under the urging of said second mentioned spring and thereby determining the ratchet release position, a ratchet pin extending from said one handle lever and engageable with the teeth of said ratchet when the ratchet is in operative position to thereby prevent upward movement of said handle, and a hammer extending from said one lever and engageable with said second mentioned spring upon raising `of said handle to cause the lower end thereof to move to thereby rotate said V-shaped lever and said ratchet about said pivot pin to ratchet operative position.

3. A dispenser comprising a chute for holding a plurality of groupsv of nested cartons in vertical alignment, an escapementmechanism for permitting groups of cartons to passl down said chute sequentially, an actuating rod extending upwardly along the side of said chute and operatively connected to said escapement mechanism, a stop on said chute, a spring connected to said chute and said rod and urging said rod against said stop, an access shelfextending from said chute to receive a group of cartons released by said escapement mechanism, a control mechanism at the bottom of said chute for eifecting 1 upward movement of said actuating rod, said control mechanism comprising a `pair of handle levers pivoted on the sides of said chute at the rear thereof and extending forwardly, one of said handle levers being engageable 2. A dispenser comprising a chute for holding a pluleast one escapement lever secured to the rock shaft transversely thereof and having inwardly directed lingers at the ends thereof, means to rock said rock shaft and escapement lever, an actuating rod extending upwardly y'along the side of said chute and operatively connected to said means to rock said rock shaft and escapement lever, a stop on said chute, a spring connected to said chute and said rod and urging said rod against said stop, an access shelf extending from said chute to receive a group of j cartons released by said escapement mechanism, a convtrolmechanism at the bottom of said chute for effecting with said actuating rod in the upper part of its movement to cause it to move upwardly, an upstanding ear on each of said handle levers and spaced outwardly of said shelf, a handle bar extending between said ears, a restraining member on the inner side of each ear and adapted to engage the sides of cartons resting on said shelf, said restraining members each comprising inwardly extending resilient fingers, a downwardly pointing V-shaped lever pivoted at a point intermediate a iirst leg thereof about a pivot pin extending from said chute, a ratchet pivoted at its lower end to said pivot pin and between said V- shaped lever and said handle lever, a connecting pin extending from said first leg of said lever and engaging in a slot in said ratchet, saidV-shaped lever and said vratchet movable between ratchet operative and ratchet release positions, a spring having a rod extending therethrough attached ,tothe V-shaped lever at its apex and extending upwardly to an anchor on the side of said chute, al handle aviones lever engaging pin extending inwardly from the end of the second leg of said V-shaped and engageable by the underside of one of said handle levers in the lower position thereof to thereby cause rotation of said V-shaped level and said ratchet, upon engagement of said connecting pin and one end of the slot of said ratchet, to ratchet release position, a stop pin extending from said one handle lever and engageable by said ratchet to limit rotation of said ratchet and said V-shaped lever under the urging of said second mentioned spring and thereby determining the ratchet release position, a ratchet pin extending from said one handle lever and engageable with the teeth of said ratchet when the ratchet is in operative position to thereby prevent upward movement of said handle, and a hammer extending from said one lever and engageable with said second mentioned spring upon raising of said handle to cause the lower end thereof to move to thereby rotate said V-shaped lever and said ratchet about said pivot pin to ratchet operative position.

4. A dispenser comprising a chute for holding a plurality of groups of nested cartons in vertical alignment, an escapement mechanism for permitting groups of cartons to pass down said chute sequentially, an actuating rod extending upwardly along the side of said chute and operatively connected to said escapement mechanism, an access Shelf extending from said chute to receive a group of cartons released by said escapement mechanism, a control mechanism at the bottom of said chute for effecting upward movement of said actuating rod, said ocntrol mechanism comprising a pair of handle levers pivoted on the sides of said chute at the rear thereof and extending forwardl, one of said handle levers being engageable with said actuating rod in the upper part of its movement to cause it to move upwardly, an opstanding ear on each of said handle levers and spaced outwardly of said shelf, a handle bar extending between said ears, a restraining member on the inner side of each ear and adapted to engage the sides of cartons restingV on said shelf, said restraining members each comprising inwardly extending resilient lingers, a downwardly pointing V- shaped lever pivoted'at a point intermediate a rst leg thereof about a pivot pin extending from said chute, a ratchet pivoted at its lower end to said pivot pin and between said V-shaped lever and said handle lever, a connecting pin extending from said first leg of said lever and engaging lin a slot in said ratchet, said-V-shaped lever and said ratchet movable between ratchet operative and ratchet release positions, a spring having a rod extending therethrough attached to the V-shaped lever at its apex and extending upwardly to an anchor on the side of said chute, a handle lever engaging pin extending inwardly from the end of the second leg of said V- Vshaped lever and engageable by the underside of one of said handle levers in the lower position thereof to thereby cause rotation of said V-shaped lever and said ratchet, upon engagement of said connecting pin and one end of the slot of said ratchet, to ratchet release position, a stop pin extending from said one handle lever and engageable by said ratchet to limit rotation of said ratchet and said V-shaped lever under the urging of said second mentioned spring and thereby determining the ratchet release position, a ratchet pin extending from said one handle lever and engageable with the teeth of said ratchet when the ratchet is in operative position to thereby prevent upward movement of said handle, and a hammer extending from said one lever and engageable with said second mentioned spring upon raising of said handle to cause the lower end thereof to move to thereby rotate said V-shaped lever and said ratchet about said pivot pin to ratchet operative position.

5. A dispensercomprising a chute for holding a plurality of groups of nested cartons in vertical alignment, an escapernent mechanism for permitting groups of cartons to pass down said chute sequentially, an'actuating rod extending upwardly along the side of said chute and operatively connected to said escapement mechanism, an

access shelf extending from said chute to receive a group. of cartons released by said escapernent mechanism, a control mechanism at the bottom of said chute for effecting upward movement of said actuating rod, said control mechanism comprising a pair of handle levers pivoted on the sides of said chute at the rear thereof and extending forwardly, one 0f said handle levers being engage-tV able with said actuating rod in the upper part of its movement to cause it to move upwardly, a resilient restraining member on the inner side of each handle lever and adapted to engage the sides of cartonsv resting on said shelf, a downwardly pointing V-shaped lever pivoted at a point intermediate a first leg thereof about a pivot pin extending from said chute, a ratchet pivoted at its lower endto said pivot pin and between said V-shaped lever and said handle lever, a connecting pin extending from said rst leg of said lever and engaging inl a slot in said ratchet, said V-shaped lever and said. ratchet movable between ratchet operative and ratchet release positions, a spring having a rod extending therethrough attached to the V-shaped lever atits apex and extending upwardly to an anchor on the side of said chute, a handle lever engaging pin extending inwardly from the end of the second leg of said V-shaped lever and engageable by the underside of one of said handle levers in the lower position thereof to thereby cause rotation of said V-shaped lever and said ratchet, upon engagement of said connecting pin and one end of the slot of said ratchet, to ratchet release position, a stop pin extending from said one handle lever and engageable` by said ratchet to limit rotation of said ratchet and said V-shaped lever under the urging of said second mentioned spring and thereby determining the ratchet release position,y a

kratchet pin extending from said one handle lever and engageable with the teeth of said ratchet when the ratchet is in operative position to thereby prevent upward move.- ment of said handle, and a hammer extending from said one lever and engageable with said second mentioned spring upon raising of said handle to cause the lower end thereof to move to thereby rotate said V-shaped lever and said` ratchet about said pivot pin to ratchet operative position.

6. A dispenser comprising a chute for holding a plurality of groups of nested cartons in vertical alignment, an escapement mechanism for permitting groups of car- .tons to pass down said chute sequentially, an actuating rod extending upwardly along the side of said chute and operatively connected to said escapement mechanism, an access shelf extending from said chute to receive a group of cartons released by said escapement mechanism, a control mechanism at the bottom of said chute for effecting upward movement of said actuating rod, said control mechanism comprising a pair of handle levers pivoted on the sides of said chute at the rear thereof and extending forwardly, one of said handle levers being engageable with said actuating rod in the upper part of its movement to cause it to move upwardly, an upstanding ear on each of said handle levers and spaced outwardly yof said shelf, a handle bar extending between said ears, a restraining -member on the inner side of each ear and adapted to engage the sides of cartons resting on said shelf, said restraining members each comprising inwardly extending resilient lingers, a downwardly pointing V-shaped lever pivoted at a point intermediate a rst leg thereof about a pivot pin extending from said chute, a ratchet pivoted at its lower end to saidv pivot pin and between said V- shaped lever and said handle lever, a lost motion connection between said V-shaped lever and said ratchet, said ratchet being movable between ratchet operative and ratchet release positions, a spring having a rod extending therethrough attached to the V-shaped lever at its apex and extending upwardly to an anchor on the side of said chute, a handle lever engaging pin extending inwardly from the end of the second leg of said V-shaped lever and engageable by the underside of one of said handle levers in the lower position thereof to thereby cause rotation ofsaid V-shaped lever and said ratchet, to ratchet release position, a stop pin-v extending fromsaid one handle lever and engageable by said ratchet to limit rotation of said ratchet and said V-shaped lever under the urging'of said second mentioned spring and thereby determining the ratchet release position, a ratchetpin extending from said one handle lever and engageable with the teeth of said ratchet when the ratchet is in operative position to thereby prevent upward movement of said handle, and a hammer extending from said one lever and engageable with said second mentioned spring upon raising of said handle to causev the lower end thereof to move to thereby rotate said `V-shaped lever and said ratchet about said pivot pin to ratchet operative position.

7. A dispenser comprising a chute for holding a plurality of groups of nested, cartons in vertical alignment, an escapement mechanism for permitting groups of cartons to pass down said chute sequentially, an actuating rod extending upwardly along the side of said chute and operatively connected to said escapement mechanism, an access shelf extending from said chute 'to receive a group of cartons released by said escapement mechanism, a control mechanism at the bottom of said chute for eiecting upward movement of said actuating rod, said control mechanism comprising a pair of handle levers pivoted on the sides of said chute at the rear thereof and extending forwardly, one of said handle levers being engageable with said actuating rod in the upper part of its movement to cause it to move upwardly, a resilient restraining member on the inner side of each handle lever and adapted to engage the sides of cartons resting on said shelf, a downwardly pointing V-shaped lever pivoted at a point intermediate a first leg thereof about a pivot pin extending from said chute, a ratchet pivoted at its lower end to said pivot pin and between said V-shaped lever and said handle lever, a lost motion connection between 10 to engage the sides of cartons resting on said shelf, a ratchet movably mounted on said chute and operatively connectedto said one handle lever in one position thereof t'o prevent upward movement of said handle lever and movable to another position to permit upward movement of said handle lever, means to urge said ratchet into said one position during downward movement of said handle lever as cartons are successively removed from said access shelf, means to move said ratchet to said other position upon removal of all cartons from said access shelf and consequent attainment of said handle lever of a lower position thereof, and means to restore said ratchet to said one position upon raising of said handle lever to move said actuating rod for said escapement mechanism. y

9. The dispenser of clairnS ,wherein said restoring means comprises a spring having aY rod extending therethrough.

10. The dispenser of claim 9 wherein said restoring means further comprises a hammer operatively connected to said one handle lever and movable thereby and engageable with said spring to move it from one position to another.

11. The dispenser of claim 8 wherein said means urging said ratchet into said one position comprises a lever having a lost motion connection with said ratchet.

12. The dispenser of claim 11, said ratchet urging means further comprising a spring operatively connected to said lever.

13. The dispenser of claim 12, said spring having one end connected to said lever and the other end to said chute, said lever beingmovable between two positions and said spring passing over the pivotal center of said lever as said lever swings from one position thereof to said V-shaped lever and said ratchet, said ratchet being v movable between ratchet operative and ratchet release positions, a spring having a rod extending therethrough attached to the V-shaped lever at its apex and extending upwardly to an anchor on the side of said chute, a handle lever engaging pin extending inwardly from the end of the second leg of said V-shaped lever and engageable by the underside of one of said handle levers in the lower position thereof to thereby cause rotation of said V- shaped lever and said ratchet, to ratchet release position, a stop pin extending from said one handle lever and engageable by said ratchet to limit rotation of said ratchet and said V-shaped lever under the urging of said second mentioned spring and thereby determining the ratchet release position, a ratchet pin extending fromsaid one handle lever and engageable with the teeth of said ratchet when the ratchet is in operative position to thereby prevent upward movement of said handle, and a hammer extending from said one lever and engageable with said second mentioned spring upon raising of said handle to cause the lower end thereof to move to thereby rotate said V-shaped lever and said ratchet about said pivot pin to ratchet operative position.

8. A dispenser comprising a chute for holding a plurality of groups of nested cartons in vertical alignment, an escapement mechanism for permitting groups of cartons to pass down said chute sequentially, an actuating rod extending upwardly along the side of said chute and operatively connected to said escapement mechanism, an access shelf extending from said chute to receive a group of cartons released by said escapement mechanism, a control mechanism at the bottom of said chute for effecting upward movement of said actuating rod, said control mechanism comprising a pair of handle levers pivoted on the sides of said chute at the rear thereof and extending forwardly, one of said handle levers being engageable with said actuating rod in the upper part of its movement to cause it to move upwardly, a resilient restraining member on the inner side of each handle lever and adapted the other.

14. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein said means to move said ratchet comprises elements of said one handle lever and said lever engageable upon attainment of said one handle lever of said lower position thereof to thereby swing said lever.

15. The dispenser of claim 13, said spring having a rod therein and said restoring means comprising a hammer operatively connected to said one handle lever and movable thereby and engageable with said spring to move it from one position to another.

16. A dispenser comprising a chute for holding a plurality of groups of nested cartons in vertical alignment, an escapement mechanism at an upper level of said chute and operatively connected therewith, said escapement mechanism comprising a vertically extending lever intermediately pivoted on a horizontal axis of rotation exteriorly of said chute, said lever including a pair of coplanar carton-engaging fingers vertically spaced from each other and oscillatable simultaneously in the same vertical plane, one of said fingers being disposed in the path of travel defined by said chute and alternately removable therefrom when the other linger is disposed in said path of travel for permitting one group of cartons to descend in said chute and retaining overlying groups of cartons against descent in said chute until the last of said one group of cartons is dispensed, an access shelf extending from said chute below said escapement mechanism to receive a group of cartons released thereby, actuating means for said escapement mechanism comprising vertically oscillatable, movable means engageable with the uppermost carton on said shelf, means for restraining movement of said actuating means in a direction to actuate said escapement mechanism when at least one carton of a group is on said shelf, and means for deactivating said movement restraining Imeans when said movable means is in a position in which no cartons are on said shelf.

17. A dispenser comprising a chute for holding a plurality of groups of nested cartons in vertical alignment, an escapement mechanism at an upper level of said chute and 11 operatively connected therewith, said escapement mechanisrn comprising at least a pair of co-planar carton engaging finger means vertically spaced fromeach other, Said finger means being oscillatable inthe same plane, one of said linger means being disposed in the path of travel defined by said chute and alternately removable therefrom when the other finger means is disposed in said path of travel for permitting one group of cartons to descend in said chute and retaining overlying groups of cartons against descent in said chute until the last of said one group of cartons is dispensed, an access shelf extending from said chute below said escapement mechanism to receive a group of cartons released thereby, a member movably mounted on said chute, means on said member engageable with the uppermost carton on said shelf for establishing the position of said member, means engageableby said member for actuating said escapement mechanisrn, and means restraining movement of saidmember in in a direction to operate said engaging eans only when said carton engaging means on said member locate said member in a position in which noV cartons are on said access shelf.

18. TheV dispenser of claim 17 and means* for deactivating said movement, restraining means when saidmemoer is in position established by an absence of cartons o n said access shelf.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Telly- Jan. 2 7, 1959 

